Portsmouth is an island city — Portsea Island — packed into a small footprint, which means its crime profile is unusually compact. The PO1 city centre and Old Portsmouth sit in a very different environment from the northern fringe at Cosham and Drayton (PO6). Knowing where a postcode falls matters a great deal for naval families, University of Portsmouth students, and anyone moving to the south coast.
This breakdown uses recent data from the official UK Police API, covering the postcode districts that fall within the Hampshire Constabulary force area.
Portsmouth Crime at a Glance
Hampshire Constabulary covers Portsmouth and the wider county. Within the city, crime concentrates in the centre and along the Southsea seafront, while the northern districts at the top of the island record lower counts.
| Postcode | Area | Character | Risk level |
|---|---|---|---|
| PO1 | City centre / Old Portsmouth / Landport | Commercial core, dockyard, naval base | Higher |
| PO5 | Southsea | Seafront, bars and student lets | Higher |
| PO2 | North End / Stamshaw / Hilsea | Inner residential, mixed | Medium |
| PO4 | Eastney / Milton / east Southsea | Residential, family streets | Medium |
| PO3 | Copnor / Baffins | Settled inner-island residential | Lower |
| PO6 | Cosham / Drayton / Farlington | Northern fringe, off-island suburbs | Lower |
Source: data.police.uk. Risk level is relative within the Portsmouth area.
The Safest Parts of Portsmouth
The lowest-crime parts of the city sit at the northern end. Cosham, Drayton and Farlington (PO6) are off-island suburbs with owner-occupied housing and no significant night-time economy, and routinely record the city's lowest counts. Copnor and Baffins (PO3) on the island itself are quieter family streets that also sit in the lower band.
Parts of Eastney and Milton (PO4) at the south-east of the island, away from the seafront strip, also have a relatively low profile.
Crime Hotspots in Portsmouth
The PO1 city centre, covering Commercial Road, Guildhall Square, Old Portsmouth and Landport, records the highest crime counts. Violence and sexual offences, public order and theft are all elevated by the commercial core, the dockyard and naval base footfall, and the railway hub.
Southsea (PO5) records elevated counts along Albert Road and the seafront strip, driven by the night-time economy and the concentration of student lets. Daytime Southsea away from the bar strip is far quieter.
What Crime Types Dominate in Portsmouth?
Across the Hampshire force area, violence and sexual offences consistently tops the crime category table. In PO1 and PO5 the night-time economy lifts public order and theft; in PO2 and PO4 vehicle crime and anti-social behaviour are the more common concerns; the northern PO6 suburbs see far lower counts across all categories.
How to Check Your Portsmouth Postcode
District-level data gives you the broad picture, but the difference between PO1 and PO6 is significant. See our national safest-areas rankings for wider context, or run a CrimeSafe report for 24 months of trend data, a ward-level breakdown, outcome rates, and a safety score for any Portsmouth postcode.